The good news for Butler County residents is they can obtain federal disaster relief loans.

The bad news is the covered dates are not during the summer’s heaviest rainfall and flooding periods.

The U.S. Small Business Administration and Gov. Tom Wolf announced Thursday that residents of Allegheny and nearby counties — including Butler County — are eligible for low-interest loans to repair damages caused by this summer’s torrential rainstorms.

However, the damages must have been incurred during flooding on July 21 and 22 only.

Some of the most severe flooding for Butler County residents occurred in late May and the first week of July.

This means that communities where residents suffered significant losses — such as Harmony, Zelienople and residents near Butler’s Sullivan Run — will not qualify for the loans.

While it’s commendable that relief is available for residents in the region who were affected by flooding, it’s ridiculous that many Butler County residents who lost property, belongings and large amounts of money for repairs are being ignored.

It is hoped this is only the first round of relief.

If not, county residents who suffered the most will be left to foot the bill for fixing expensive damages.

State legislators have talked a good game on coming to the aid of those affected by the storms, but so far, little has been done.

In April, the governor announced the investment of $69 million for wastewater and stormwater projects in 14 counties, but Butler County was not among them.

Wolf and the Republican-controlled state legislature agreed this summer that flood control and stormwater management need to be addressed, but they weren’t in the budget.

The end result was a mere commitment to revisit those issues in the fall.

Meanwhile, Butler County residents have suffered all summer.

Rainstorms in late May caused trees to crash into houses, flooded homes, left churches and campgrounds in states of disrepair, resulted in roads being swallowed by sinkholes and totaled cars.

Much of the cleanup was left to residents, many of whom removed several feet of water from their basements, as well as volunteer fire departments and emergency responders.

In June and early July, they had to do it again. And again. And again.

Thankfully, local leaders are exploring options.

A golf course owner in Butler has offered to build stormwater retention ponds on his property to help residents near Sullivan Run, who have been flooded multiple times per year for the past 20 years.

So, while the announced loans for residents affected by storms in later July are certainly a good thing, it’s baffling why those affected by devastating floods earlier in the summer aren’t also being given a helping hand.

Butler County residents who suffered flood damage on July 21 or 22 can inquire about relief at the Renton Volunteer Fire Department, 1996 Old Mine Road, Plum, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday through Aug. 20 or from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17.